Training rides, training for rides, preparing for training rides, equipment for training, and training routines.
28
votes
11answers
1k views
Ride with someone who is less trained
Barbie and Ken both love to ride the bike. Ken is a strong guy who likes to ride 60km as fast as possible, enjoys of getting to the edge of his strength. Barbie is more relaxed, likes to enjoy the ...
23
votes
14answers
3k views
I wish to get fit, therefore should I have a heavy bike?
A lot of people seem take up cycling to get fit, and they'll talk about how light their bikes are.
However, as I understand it, a heavy bike uses more energy to pedal it. Should someone that wished ...
21
votes
9answers
12k views
What is the best breakfast right before cycling?
Sometimes I feel I will faint when I am cycling in the morning. I usually don't have this problem after lunch.
My breakfast is rich in carbohydrates, but maybe I'm eating too much or missing some ...
16
votes
3answers
293 views
How much do you need to concentrate when using rollers?
I'm consider getting bicycle rollers for use over winter, and I expect after the initial newness has worn off it might become boring. Can I realistically watch a DVD while using rollers? Or do they ...
15
votes
2answers
3k views
What exercise should I do in the gym to assist with hill-climbing?
I have a few events coming up this year which have a fair amount of climbing (one is over a hundred miles with about 6500ft of ascent - that's an average of just over 1% for the entire distance). ...
14
votes
7answers
3k views
Does spin class prepare you for a long bike ride?
I need to train for an upcoming bike ride and i wanted to see if attending a spin class 1-2 times a week (45 min course) would be appropriate way to prepare for a long bike ride (50 - 75 miles)
14
votes
4answers
1k views
Should I buy a PVC or aluminum roller?
I'm currently trying to choose between the CycleOps PVC roller and the CycleOps Aluminum roller. How big of a difference is there between them? I don't really care about riding the roller outdoors, so ...
14
votes
3answers
528 views
Attacked by birds
I have been having some problems being attacked by several red-winged blackbirds when I am riding. It seems to be the same birds because I am only having this problem in certain areas. I have talked ...
13
votes
6answers
879 views
Cross Training routines for longer rides
I am trying to build up to longer rides (75 - 100 miles). I usually only have time for one long ride a week. I can squeeze in one or two shorter rides of 20 miles or so. How can I build mileage under ...
13
votes
3answers
4k views
How do bicycle power meters work?
What exactly are they measuring? How do they measure it? What are the implications of the different approaches on accuracy / speed of getting a good measure?
It would be helpful if someone could ...
13
votes
1answer
456 views
What should I look for when buying rollers?
What should I look for when buying rollers?
What sets more expensive models apart from their cheaper alternatives?
12
votes
8answers
883 views
How can I pedal in circles?
I couple of years ago I switched from using a normal pedal to using a clipless pedal. It takes a little while to get used to. Now, to be able to use it optimally I need to learn how to pedal in ...
12
votes
4answers
4k views
What's the most efficient riding style for losing weight?
I plan on setting up my bicycle with one of those devices that holds the rear tire and gives some resistance so I can exercise through the winter. I think it's called a bicycle trainer.
When using ...
12
votes
3answers
684 views
Should I eat breakfast before or after morning ride?
I am planning to do some (1-2 hours) base training rides in the morning before work. Should I eat something before the ride?
From my knowledge, there should be enough glycogen in muscles to power me. ...
11
votes
4answers
361 views
How can somebody with Type I diabetes keep blood sugar levels acceptable during and after a multi-hour ride?
I recently upgraded my bike to a Merckx EMX1 and started doing some serious riding. I am riding 50–70km(30–45 miles once a week usually including a second cat climb and sometimes one or ...
11
votes
5answers
524 views
What's the cheapest way to get into training with power?
I used to train with a stopwatch, and later on, heart-rate. Both required relatively inexpensive tools.
Now I'm interested in training with power (measuring the watts produced) and I'm finding that ...
10
votes
5answers
3k views
How much to eat and drink during a 50km ride?
I want to try a 50 km ride for the first time, to be completed continuously one morning.
The most I've even done before is an 18 km (70 minute) each way commute (out in the morning and back in the ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of turbo trainers and rollers?
In a previous question I asked what I need to know about turbo trainers, but several answers mentioned the use of rollers. What are the pros and cons of turbo trainers and rollers?
10
votes
3answers
422 views
What is a good way to learn how to ride a bike on rollers?
After seeing a few questions about rollers pop-up, such as this one, it has spiked my interest in these things again.
So how do you learn how to ride on rollers? How long does it take you to get the ...
9
votes
5answers
3k views
How do I maximize my upper body workout from riding?
I often hear people say “your bike is a whole-body gym”. I know my upper body workout will never be close to the workout my legs get, but so long as I’m a bike commuter, I figure I ought to get as ...
8
votes
4answers
526 views
Will stretching make me slower?
I have heard rumors that (excessive) stretching can hurt cycling performance. Specifically, stretching one's hamstrings and/or quadriceps supposedly reduces sprinting power. Is there any factual basis ...
8
votes
9answers
6k views
What should I be doing a week before a long distance bike ride?
I have a 50 mile bike ride in 1 week. I have been training for a while and I am trying to figure out, at this point, if I should be:
Training hard, doing a few long bike rides to get prepared
...
8
votes
5answers
260 views
Training fasted: just about weight loss?
Preparing for a 100mile ride in August I was thinking of following a training plan which came in a "Sportive Guide" given away with Cycling Plus magazine this month.
Some of the days on the plan ...
8
votes
3answers
300 views
Why should I not coast while training (even after intervals)?
A comment in this answer about building up stamina for a commute says not to coast, even after intervals.
Why not? How is coasting different from light pedaling with minimal load (which I'm assuming ...
8
votes
3answers
386 views
Effective breathing for efficient cycling
It seems silly to say I don't know how to breathe, but I don't. When doing weights, I know you exhale when you do the work part of the rep. In Yoga similarly breathe out on the stretch. Rock ...
8
votes
4answers
458 views
Do I need to buy a special stand for my front wheel when using my turbo trainer?
I have seen available special "stands" (please tell me the correct terminology) to be placed under the front wheel when using a turbo trainer.
I normally just put a copy of the phone directory down ...
8
votes
4answers
354 views
Can I do cyclocross if I've never really been very athletic?
I've never really been very athletic - I started cycling around the city a few months ago, did a 30 mile ride recently (and felt great after it - could have done more, although the pace wasn't very ...
7
votes
2answers
816 views
Needed training time or speed for each category of racer
What type of training time or average speeds are needed to qualify for each category of racer? I realize that it can varry based on a hilly or flat route so lets assume a time trial of 40km that's ...
7
votes
9answers
1k views
Effective 'equipment minimal' leg strength training for cycling?'
What are the most effective 'no equipment' (bodyweight only) or 'equipment minimal' strength exercises for cyclists? There's a lot of info out there about core strength, so I'm working on that. ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I improve my stamina?
Generally I'm doing a lot of sports, (volleyball, hiking, soccer, swimming, etc.) and while hiking I have no problem to do 3000 meters or more in a day (uphill ;)) but when I go mountain-biking I have ...
7
votes
2answers
612 views
How do you calculate aerobic and anaerobic heart rates?
What are some of the methods to determine my aerobic/anaerobic heart rate threshold.
6
votes
3answers
425 views
Simple plain English explanation of VO2 MAX
What is VO2 MAX and how is a measurement taken? By how much can VO2 MAX be increased in the average person?
6
votes
3answers
393 views
How can one estimate drag for a bicycle?
I am curious how to estimate drag for a bicycle. This has two different framings:
Find the amount of power required to ride at a certain speed. That is, when one is traveling at a constant speed, ...
6
votes
3answers
736 views
What are the most effective exercises to improve stamina and speed on my cycle to/from work?
I have just turned 40 and despite running many marathons in my younger days I'm finding it hard to get fitter again after too many years at a desk. I have a reasonable racing bike which I use for my ...
6
votes
2answers
331 views
How to significantly lower HR[avg] while improving performance output
On my Saturday's ascent race I was riding 181bpm HRAVG and saved some power for the last km where my HR peaked at 190 (which is my highest ever recorded HR at my 37 years or age). I felt rather normal ...
6
votes
2answers
130 views
Improving metabolic efficiency
I'm doing road cycling, on hills, over long distances.
Typically at the moment, I'll do two 30-40 mile evening rides in just under 2 hours. Generally either 50ft per mile climb or 100ft per mile ...
5
votes
3answers
248 views
3x increase in endurence in 3 months?
I am currently using a hybrid bike, 10kg of weight(quite light for the category I've head) and my longest ride has been 65km at an average of 18km/h in a mostly flat terrain.
In this ride for many ...
5
votes
4answers
580 views
Is it better to breathe through your nose or mouth when cycling?
I just watched the 'Road to Glory' documentary about Team Sky. I noticed when they were warming up on their Turbos, some of them had cotton wool up their noses.
Is this because it's better to ...
5
votes
6answers
643 views
How much rest (tendon or ligament), for a novice?
Given that 'training' is a valid topic, can you say how much rest a novice needs?
My ambition is to commute 18 km each way, every week day: in Toronto (mostly flat, some hills, mostly bike lanes and ...
5
votes
2answers
280 views
Recommended inexpensive heart-rate monitors?
Since I last used a heart rate monitor (about eight years ago), wrist-watch only monitors seem to have increased in popularity (based on the offerings at Amazon)
update apparently these watches come ...
5
votes
2answers
248 views
Suggestions of a good video on intermediate Mountain Biking skills: getting up (and down) 1' obstacles
I'm looking for a good training video on intermediate mountain biking skills.
(I've been mt biking for about 12 years and I'd like to improve my skills.)
I'm looking for a video that really breaks ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
How to measure calories burned?
How can I accurately measure the calories burned while using my bicycle? My bike computer tells me how many calories I have burned. But it has no cadence meter. The only measurements it has are my ...
5
votes
5answers
337 views
Train cycling legs for a long walking trek
Cycling is my sport. I'm training for a multi-day ride (four days). Each day will we be hard riding but not too long. The week before the event however I'm going on a four day trek with a 20kg ...
5
votes
3answers
727 views
What are the 'easiest' ways to determine functional threshold power?
I recently picked up a powertap and have done a fair bit of riding around and a few races now with it on, so I've started to get familiar with some of the numbers. I would like to figure out what my ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a cycling desk?
I just came across an article about a cycling desk (never knew that such a thing existed). This past year, I gave up a traditional desk for a standing desk and have been pretty happy with the results, ...
4
votes
4answers
610 views
How long is the life cycle of a bicycle?
This may not be a particularly practical question, but I wonder how often do you find yourself looking for a new (or another) bike? There are, of course, two main aspects of it:
Mechanical decay. If ...
4
votes
3answers
344 views
Is it normal to wear out the rear tire with in a few months when using a trainer?
Early this year I attached my bicycle to a trainer, around the December time frame of 2011. The rear tire and inner tuber where shot by March of 2012. Riding about 24 Miles per week. Is this normal ...
4
votes
6answers
263 views
How should I train for a century while still commuting by bike to work?
I'm going to start training for a May gravel century at the end of March. This is my first century. I plan to follow this training schedule here: http://www.kintera.org/htmlcontent.asp?cid=54755. My ...
4
votes
5answers
2k views
Couch to Century
Due to injury I've got to take a little time off from biking. My physical therapist recommended doing a "couch to marathon" program when I'm feeling better to get me back into the swing of things. ...
4
votes
3answers
5k views
Techniques to increase average cadence for endurance-riding?
According to the Wikipedia entry here:
Recreational and utility cyclists typically cycle around 60–80 rpm.
According to cadence measurement of 7 professional cyclists during 3
week races they ...
